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I have the best job,[br]but it can also be the hardest job.

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I'm a veterinarian,[br]which means that throughout my life,

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my sole focus has always [br]revolved around the health of this:

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your pet, from birth [br]through puppy and kittenhood,

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and into adolescence;

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through that face-licking[br]and shoe-chewing phase,

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where it is always the most expensive[br]pair that gets damaged;

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past the gaining of wisdom,

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like why eating dead things[br]washed up on the beach

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really isn't the smartest idea[br]they have ever had;

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and into the years of quietening,

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where the point of life suddenly becomes

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how successfully they can lie[br]directly under foot

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as you move about the kitchen.

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Now, I always knew I cared[br]about the health of your pet.

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However, quite soon after graduation,

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I realized that I also [br]really cared about this:

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I cared about the details of your life,

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the new baby, the broken arm at soccer,[br]the promotion at work.

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I cared about the fact that your pet[br]was a part of your family.

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And this is why I know that at some point,

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you are going to need[br]a veterinarian like me.

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I'm what is called[br]a palliative care veterinarian,

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which means I deal[br]with the health of your pet

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during the end-of-life stages.

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This is the point where [br]you may have been given

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a terminal diagnosis for your pet,

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or where you have recognized[br]that your pet is now struggling,

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and where the cumulative impacts[br]of chronic illness

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and age-related changes[br]begin to affect happiness.

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In Australia, [br]veterinarians that specialize

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in this kind of care are not commonplace.

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But it is a statistic [br]that I am determined to change,

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because I see [br]the benefits of it every day.

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As our pets become [br]more a part of our lives than ever,

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as we continue to help them live longer[br]through great preventative care,

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I believe we need to be better prepared[br]for end-of-life discussions.

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And I get it; in this situation[br]the emotions are always devastating.

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But the process does not have to be,

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which is why I have decided [br]to start my own palliative care practice.

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At its heart, palliative medicine[br]is about delivering

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the most compassionate care we can.

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It is care which is focused[br]on quality of life, and what that means,

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not based on numbers or statistics,[br]but for your individual pet.

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It is about ensuring that we are[br]adequately managing their pain,

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and the progression of their condition.

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It is about preparing you[br]for what is to come,

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so that we lessen the fear

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that may prevent you[br]from making good decisions.

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In its end stages, for my profession,

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palliative care is also[br]about helping families

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say a gentle goodbye.

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Over recent years,[br]we have seen dramatic changes

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in the standards of care[br]that vets can now deliver.

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And people are often surprised

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when they hear that almost all[br]of the treatment options

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that would be available for you,[br]are also available for your pets.

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Veterinary hospitals and specialty centers

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are often state of the art,[br]and they do amazing work.

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But ultimately, just as we have seen[br]in the human health world,

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hospitals are designed[br]for the management of treatable disease.

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They are not always the right place[br]for us to deliver comfort,

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or to say goodbye to those we love.

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So I am redesigning the script[br]for pets, and for owners,

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during this difficult time.

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I want you to meet Turbo.

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Turbo was a champ.

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This superstar absolutely rocked[br]the world that he lived in.

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He was one of those special souls

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that makes the world a better place[br]just by being in it.

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At the age of five,[br]he was diagnosed with kidney failure.

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But despite the poor prognosis,

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his family wanted to do[br]everything that they could

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to ensure that his last days[br]were some of his best days.

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So we addressed his nausea,[br]his dehydration,

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and his underlying infections,

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and this superstar[br]began to get his groove back.

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Over the months that followed,

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Turbo received daily,[br]supported home care from his family,

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and fortnightly visits from me.

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He visited his regular vets [br]for monitoring of his kidney function,

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and with his support team on board,[br]he got on with living.

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He went boating and fishing.

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He rode shotgun in the truck with dad.

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And during the period of his illness,

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Turbo brought his entire extended family[br]back together again,

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by demanding that they attend[br]regular backyard campouts in his honor.

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In September, last year,

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when it became clear[br]that it was time to let him go,

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we planned a peaceful goodbye[br]underneath his favorite tree.

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And there was no stress, [br]no fear, only sadness,

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which was lessened, somewhat,

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by knowing that he had received[br]the best of care,

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right up until the very end.

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So let's talk about how we implement[br]

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the ideals of palliative [br]care for our pets.

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Firstly, we need to be[br]more comprehensive in our care.

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And I am not talking [br]just about the medicine,

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because chances are[br]your vet is already doing that.

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But when a family approaches us[br]after receiving a terminal diagnosis,

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we will also ask them

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whether they have thought[br]about a photography session,

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to help them treasure the moments[br]that they still have with their pet.

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Sometimes we will talk about bucket lists.

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For a pet, I know it sounds crazy,[br]but it is about joy,

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and life, and living,[br]in the midst of all of that loss.

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We understand that grief[br]can be overwhelming,

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so we have a registered [br]psychologist on staff,

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who can help our clients through.

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And if talking isn't their thing,

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we have a library of books[br]that we loan out,

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some for kids, some for adults,[br]to help them learn about loss,

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and cope better[br]with the weight of their grief.

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We need to be more personable.

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Our patients cannot speak,[br]but there is so much that we can learn

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from heart-felt conversation [br]with an owner.

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And it takes a little extra time,[br]but I promise you,

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it absolutely improves patient outcomes.

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And we need to know[br]about that pet's individual personality,

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because it will greatly impact[br]the choices we will make for them.

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And if the process of actually medicating[br]is damaging the pet-owner relationship,

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we need to stop, rethink it,[br]and come up with a better plan.

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We need to be brave.

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I first have that conversation about [br]how our treatment plan has now evolved,

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to comfort beyond a cure.

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Then I dispense that extra pain relief,[br]because in that pet's life,

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if my actions today will make[br]their tomorrow a little better,

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then that is absolutely an action[br]that I am going to take.

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Where possible, we need to offer[br]more mobile services.

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I know that this is a challenge[br]for many vets in practice,

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but the benefits of home care[br]are extensive.

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I want families to be intricately involved[br]in any care decisions we make,

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and I want to see[br]that they are comfortable

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delivering the treatment options[br]that I prescribe.

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Most importantly, I know how hard[br]that last day will be,

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and for the families I visit, [br]being at home as we say goodbye

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makes everything just a little easier.

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So pet owners, [br]if this applies to you right now,

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ask your vet about your options[br]for a palliative care plan.

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My fellow vets, be open[br]to these conversations,

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because palliative care [br]is insurance against suffering.

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It allows families [br]to focus on what is important.

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And whilst we know

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that the loss of a friend[br]is always devastating,

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it is time to rethink[br]the way in which we help them go.

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Thank you.

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(Applause)